Most 13-year-olds are busy playing sports or thinking about when they can hang out with their friends next, but Candace Sinclair, at just 13 is biking 300 km to raise money for childhood cancer.
Sinclair registered for the Great Cycle Challenge Canada where people of all ages across Canada set a personal riding goal to achieve within the month of August to fight childhood cancer.
Those participating can choose the amount they want to cycle, and the money raised will go towards the SickKids Foundation.
According to the Great Cycle Challenge website, over 1400 children are diagnosed with childhood cancer every year and it is one of the biggest killers of children from disease in Canada.
The goal of reaching 300 km is not only a physical one but it is a personal one for Sinclair and her family.
Sinclair’s mother, Jolene Richert’s sister Tara-Lynn, passed away from childhood cancer.
“My mom’s sister passed away from childhood cancer and I thought this would be something that would mean a lot to our family,” Sinclair said.
Tara-Lynn was diagnosed with Wilms tumor at the age of nine months. It is the most common type of kidney cancer in children.
“She passed away at three and a half years old. The majority of those three years were spent at the SickKids Hospital in Toronto,” Richert said. “This fundraiser is close to our hearts because all of the money raised goes to the SickKids Foundation. I’m very proud of her for taking this on. It means a lot to everybody.”
Richert said she saw someone else take part in the challenge on Facebook and told Sinclair about it and she wanted to jump on board.
Sinclair said the idea of biking 300 km did not scare her as she is already very active and likes to go on long bike rides regularly.
Candace Sinclair is already more than halfway to her fundraising goal. She’s riding for her late aunt, who passed away at three of childhood Cancer. – Submitted photo
“I’m biking 10 km a day. We mapped out how far some distances will be, and I will be slowly biking longer distances in July, so I’m prepared for when I start in August,” Sinclair said.
Sinclair’s goal is to raise $2,500 and so far, she has raised $1,385.
“I’m very proud of her. You get to pick your goal of how much you raise, and most people were picking $500, and she picked the top, which is superhero status, $2,500. She’s got a very lofty goal, but she can do it. As far as the distance, I thought theoretically it was a lot, but we talked about it and if there’s a day where she can’t ride, she knows she just needs to do extra the next day, and it keeps her grounded,” Richert said.
In order to help reach her goal, Sinclair has started to sell baked goods and has had 15 orders so far. Sinclair said she tries to bake whenever she can and has had some help from her friends.
Those interested in putting in orders for baked goods can message Richert on Facebook or contact her at 807-276-8473.
Donations can also be made directly to https://greatcyclechallenge.ca/Riders/CadanceSinclair and you can follow her journey on the Facebook page Cadance’s Cycling for Children’s Cancer Journey!
Richert said for those that would prefer to not donate online can send an e-transfer to jolene-elizabeth@live.com or contact her to arrange for pickup or drop-off of a donation and she will enter it in for you.
